Govts insensitive to the plight of Dalits in the national capital: Maken

Former union minister further alleged that the government does not feel for this vulnerable section anymore. “The government has failed to fill the quota of a Dalit minister.

The Delhi congress chief Ajay Maken on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were not paying attention to the plight of Dalits in the national capital. This section of society was feeling alienated because of this neglect, he added.

Former union minister further alleged that the government does not feel for this vulnerable section anymore. “The government has failed to fill the quota of a Dalit minister. (HT Photo)

“Sanitation workers had to strike as they did not get regular salaries. Ad-hoc staff are not being given regular appointments because the Delhi government has put ban on fresh employment. The number of scholarships being given to SC students has dropped since the AAP government took charge in Delhi,” the Congress leader said.

Former union minister further alleged that the government does not feel for this vulnerable section anymore. “The government has failed to fill the quota of a Dalit minister. The post is vacant for the last six months. This has happened for the first time. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejrwal talks about a Dalit deputy chief minister in Punjab but ignoring the cabinet here,” he said.

Maken said to highlight these facts and to get justice for the community, the Congress will initiate--‘Dalit Nyaya March’-- 12 day-long campaign starting from March 8.

“It will be carried out across 46 wards reserved for SC candidates. The campaign will start from Mangolpuri assembly seats and cover wards populated by the reserved category citizens. “The Dalit community has suffered the worst after the exit of the Congress Government in Delhi three years ago. A prime example being the sanitation workers of the MCD being forced to resort to strikes five times to get their wages,” he said.